Regattas in Cornwall: Fowey, Charlestown and Falmouth

Up and down the country, communities celebrate with carnival weeks and summer festivals. This being Cornwall, we also have plenty of regattas to enjoy.

Regattas are about much more than boat races. They bring together sailing, competitions, entertainment, food and music, with whole towns and harbours joining in. Three of the best-known are in Fowey, Charlestown and Falmouth, each with its own character.

Fowey Royal Regatta

Fowey Royal Regatta is the closest to me and probably one of my favourites. For one week each summer, the town fills with sailing, competitions, entertainment, food and music, drawing visitors from miles around.

The sailing is at the heart of it, with dinghy racing, cruisers and Fowey's distinctive Troy Class boats out on the water. The regatta has a long history too, with roots stretching back to the 19th century.

There is plenty happening ashore as well, so you certainly don't have to be a sailor to enjoy it. Check the Fowey Royal Regatta website for this year's dates and programme.

Charlestown Regatta Week

Another place I just love to go, especially on a warm summer evening, is Charlestown. Famous as a filming location and for its historic harbour, it is atmospheric at the best of times.

Charlestown Regatta Week brings even more life to the village, with a programme that can include water sports, rowing, music, food and family entertainment. The events change from year to year, which is part of the fun, so it is worth checking the latest programme before you visit.

Tall Ships in Falmouth

When I lived in Falmouth, we loved watching the tall ships come in. We would sit high above the harbour with a picnic and something bubbly, watching these extraordinary ships sail past. It really does make you feel as though you have wandered into a pirate film!

Falmouth hosted the start of the Tall Ships Regatta in 2023, filling the harbour with an extraordinary fleet. Tall Ships events are occasional rather than annual, but when they do return to Falmouth they are quite a sight and a lovely reminder of the town's long relationship with the sea.

Falmouth Week

Falmouth doesn't need much encouragement to celebrate its relationship with the sea. Falmouth Week combines sailing with a packed programme of entertainment around the town, making it one of the liveliest weeks of the summer.

Racing takes place in the bay and Carrick Roads, while ashore there is usually music, entertainment and plenty happening around the town and harbour. Check the official Falmouth Week programme for the latest dates and events.

Whether you prefer being out on the water or watching everything from dry land, Cornwall's regatta season is a lovely excuse to spend a summer day beside one of our harbours. Now we just need the weather!

For more ideas around the county, have a look through our things to do in Cornwall.